Construction beams



APril 3, 1968 s. QUISLING 3,378,984

CONSTRUCTION BEAMS Filed na 12, 1966 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SVERRE QUlSLlNG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 &..

S. QUISLING cons'muc'rxou BEAMS April 23, 1968 Filed May 12, 1966 nv Q? INVENTOR SVERRE QUISLING United States Patent M 3,378,984 CONSTRUCTION BEAMS Sven-e Quisling, 1240 Sherman Ave, Madison, Wis. 53703 Filed May 12, 1966, Ser. No. 549,542 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-729) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Lightweight construction beams formed of at least two fiat metal sections held perpendicular to each other by wire connectors. The wire connectors are resilient and have coils for suspending tubular conduits, wires, and the like from the beams.

This invention relates generally to construction beams and more particularly to light-weight construction beams which may be readily assembled at the job-site from flexible band-like material and to reinforcing members for concrete beams.

In the past, construction beams of steel, aluminum and the like have been made by fabricators in their plants in the exact sizes ordered for a particular job. The beams are then delivered to the job-site on oversized trailer-trucks or the like which are often diflicult to maneuver in close to the actual point of construction at the job-site.

Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is to provide novel, light-weight construction beams which may be assembled at the job-site from flexible band-like material delivered to the job-site coiled on spools or the like and which may be cut to any desired length.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel connectors for suppotring wires, cables, tubular conduits and the like on construction beams.

Another object of my invention is to provide new and improved reinforcing members for concrete beams.

Still another object of my invention is to provide new and improved reinforcing members having connectors for suspending wires, cables, tubular conduits and the like from the reinforcing members for encasement in concrete beams, such as for carrying underground telephone cables or the like across a river by passing the cables through the reinforced concrete support beams of a bridge.

A further object of my invention is to provide beams which are easy to assemble and which may be made in very small sizes for use in toy building sets and the like.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of my invention have been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beam embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a corner construction incorporating the beam of FIG. 1 as a portion thereof.

FIG. 3 is another form of construction beam embodying my invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another form of beam as it may be utilized as a reinforcing member in a concrete beam.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another form of beam embodying my invention showing a connector adapted for supporting a wire, cable, tubular conduit or the like on the beam.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of yet another form of a beam 3,378,984 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 embodying my invention and having a connector designed for suspending a wire, cable, tubular conduit or the like therefrom.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 4 show a T-section beam at 10 which exemplifies my invention. Beam 10 comprises a pair of substantially flat elongated members 11 and 12. These members may be made of steel, aluminum, plastic, or the like and may be of any desired size and strength as required for the particular job. For relatively light-weight beams, the members 11 and 12 may be made from flexible bands of material which may be wound on a spool or core for ease in transportation and handling. The band-like material may be unwound and cut to the required length at the job-site which eliminates the difiiculties heretofore experienced in transporting and handling long beams.

Although members 11 and 12 are shown as having smooth faces, it is understood that these substantially flat members may be corrugated or ribbed for additional strength.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the members 11 and .12 may be made with longitudinally extending series of holes 13 and 14, respectively. These holes are provided for receiving wire connectors 15 which hold the beam members 11 and 12 in right-angle relation to provide a substantially rigid beam.

The particular connectors 15 shown in FIGS 1 and 3 are generally U-shaped. The base 15a of the connector 15 is engaged in one of the holes 13 in the upright beam member 11. The legs 15b and extend through the hole 14 in the horizontal member 12 and the ends 15d and 15e of the legs 15b and 150, respectively, are bent outwardly and form loops which engage face 12a of the horizontal member 12 which faces away from the upright beam member 11.

In addition to holding the connector 15 in place, the looped ends 15d and 15e also function to hold wires and the like, such as, cable 16 and tubular conduit 17.

FIG. 2 shows a corner construction 18 which may be comprised of three beams such as 10 shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 5 show an I-beam 20 made of three beam members 21, 22 and 23. In this form of beam, a pair of connectors 24 are inserted in each of the holes 25 in the web member 22 for holding parallel end members 21 and 23 in rigid, right-angle relation with web member 22. The particular wire connectors 24 shown for exemplification are similar to connectors 15 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 except that the ends 24:: thereof are merely bent outwardly but not looped.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the holes 26 in the beam members 21 and 23 are somewhat elongated and must be longer than the flared ends 24:: of the connectors 24 to facilitate insertion of the ends through the holes 26. When inserting the connectors 24, the ends 24:: may be turned to a substantially longitudinal position for insertion through the holes 26 and are than allowed to spring back or are turned back to their transversely extending position shown in the drawings for holding the beam members in rigid, right-angle relation.

FIG. 6 shows a beam 30 as it may be employed as the reinforcing member of a concrete beam 31. Reinforcing member 30 comprises a pair of substantially flat beam members 32 and 33 which are similar to member 11 and 12 shown in FIG. 1. In this form of beam, which is to be used as the reinforcing member of a concrete beam, a U- shaped connector such as 34 having only one full length leg may be advantageously employed. Connector 34 can be inserted in place somewhat more quickly than connectors 15 and 24 in that only one leg need be inserted through the hole 35 in the bottom member 33. Substantial rigidity can be obtained by alternating the placing of the leg of the connectors 34 on either side of the upright member 32. Since the beam 30 is to be encased in concrete, the beam members 32 and 33 will be held in rigid, right-angle relation by the surrounding concrete. The connector 34 may be provided with a looped end 36 as shown in FIG. 6 or with a fiared flat end such as 24a shown in FIG. 5. A cable such as 37 may be suspended from the connector 34 by inserting it through looped end 36 for encasement in the concrete beam 31. The connector 34 serves as temporary means for anchoring the beam members 32 and 33 together and holding a cable or conduit in position while the concrete is poured around the reinforcing member 30 to form the reinforced concrete beam 31. After hardening, the concrete will, of course, maintain the reinforcing beam members in fixed relation.

FIG. 7 shows another form of T-section beam 40 wherein the beam member 41 and 42 need not be formed with holes therein. In this form of beam, a flexible connector 43 having a coiled end 43a may be provided for holding the beam members 41 and 42 in substantially rigid, rightangle relation. As shown in FIG. 7, the connector 43 may be formed from a single wire having a main portion 43b engaging the faces of beam member 41 and a pair of wing sections 430 and 43d which receive the edges of the beam 42 and engage its under surface. As shown in the drawing, a cable 44 or the like may be supported in the coiled spring section 43a of the connector 43. The wing sections 43c and 43d may be provided with looped ends, if desired, for suspending additional cables or conduits.

FIG. 8 shows another type of connector 50 which may be used to anchor unperforated beam members such as 51 and 52. Connector 50 is comprised of a single wire generally bent into the shape of a T for completely encircling and engaging the faces of both beam members 51 and 52. The connector 50 may be formed into a coil as shown at 53 to provide spring action in the connector 50 and for supporting a cable or conduit such as 54. Ends 50b and Site of the connector 50 may also be looped to provide additional cable holding means.

While only beam 30 is shown employed as a reinforcing members in a concrete beam, it is understood that any of the beams shown may be so utilized, and it is further understood that the beam 30 may be employed as a support beam itself rather than merely as a reinforcing member in a concrete beam.

'It is further understood that the particular forms of connectors shown are exemplary only and that my invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof, as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A unitary wire connector for fastening first and second substantially flat two-faced beam sections in substantially perpendicular relation and for suspending a tubular conduit, wire, cable or the like therefrom, said wire connector comprising:

(a) a main portion engaging both faces of said first flat beam section,

(b) a wing portion integral with said main portion for engaging at least that face of said second beam section which faces away from said first beam section, and

(c) a coiled spring section attaching to one of said connector portions for receiving a tubular conduit, wire, cable, or the like therethrough.

2. The unitary wire connector as specified in claim 1 wherein said main portion of said connector has a pair of side elements and said coil spring section resiliently connects said side elements.

3. The unitary wire connector as specified in claim 1 wherein said wing portion of said connector has a pair of side elements and said coil spring section resiliently connects said side elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,751,923 3/1930 Kane 52-629 2,025,576 12/1935 De Spirt 52371 XR 2;8l8,235 12/1957 Baran 52-220 X'R 3,033,533 5/1962 Dievlangard 52-22() XR FOREIGN PATENTS 175,362 9/1906 Germany. 574,301 3/1924 France.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

